A strategic set of banana genetic resources has recently been transferred from the International Musa Germplasm Transit Centre (ITC) in Leuven, Belgium, to the Future Seeds genebank, both part of the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT. This initiative strengthens the Banana collection while advancing global efforts to safeguard banana diversity, one of the world’s most important food crops.
In Uganda’s bean-growing districts, the ECREA project is strengthening climate services by improving access, understanding, and use of weather forecasts, enabling farmers to make timely decisions and increasing trust in climate information.
A high-level delegation from IITA Kenya paid a courtesy visit to the newly appointed Director General of the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO), Dr Patrick Ketiem, at KALRO Headquarters, as part of efforts to reaffirm institutional collaboration and discuss new areas of strategic partnership.
A two-member delegation from India’s National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) visited the IITA–CGIAR headquarters in Ibadan, Nigeria, from 12 to 13 March 2026. During the visit, both teams held intensive technical discussions on aflatoxin mitigation and advanced preparations for a joint initiative to create an India-specific Aflasafe product.
IITA–CGIAR has formalized its presence in Madagascar following the signing of a Host Country Agreement (HCA) with the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MINAE) on 27 February 2026 in the capital city. The agreement grants IITA legal status in the country and sets the stage for long-term, science-driven agricultural investment.
Anchovy, locally known as dagaa, sits at the heart of Zanzibar’s fisheries, diets and livelihoods. These small fish are rich in essential micronutrients and widely consumed across the archipelago, making them a vital source of affordable nutrition, particularly for low-income households. At the same time, dagaa is increasingly important for trade, supplying regional markets beyond Zanzibar and contributing to regional food systems and economic growth. This dual role raises a critical question: can efforts to improve fish processing and expand markets boost incomes without reducing equitable access to this nutritious food for the communities who depend on it most?
In Moyale, on the Ethiopia-Kenya border, localized climate forecasts help pastoralists make timely decisions on livestock, water, and crops amid drought and erratic rain.
At sunrise in a market garden in Goudomp, Ndeye carefully waters her vegetable beds. Just a few years ago, the cracked soil produced very little. Today, rows of tomatoes and okra leaves tell a different story. Like thousands of farmers across the regions of Sedhiou and Tambacounda, Ndeye is among the beneficiaries of the AVENIR project. Implemented by MEDA with scientific support from the Alliance of Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT and funded by Global Affairs Canada, the project shows how climate-smart agriculture can help transform local food systems.